The Faces of Point2

TITLE: Software Developer

STARTED AT POINT2: June 2008




Just like Customer Care Representatives, we seem to have a lot of software developers at Point2 as well. Which we suppose is a good thing, seeing as we are a software development company! Jesse's recent work hasn't entailed anything noticeably customer facing, but his focus is often on structural and overall code improvements.



When he's not busy keeping our software awesome, Jesse can always be found playing some type of video game - his love for gaming is well known. What he's probably less well known for is his love of spicy food, all kinds of music, and the secret desire to be able to teleport.



We asked Jesse to answer a few questions about himself. Here's what he had to say:



WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF MUSIC?

I have a very diverse mixture of music I enjoy listening to, depending on my mood. I usually have classic rock and metal playing while I am programming. Some of my favorites are Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and Black Sabbath. I tend to favor the newer, alternative stuff when I am trying to unwind at the end of the day. The White Stripes, Sublime, and The Black Keys come to mind. I also enjoy a lot of the harder rap, especially when I need to get pumped up. My favorite of all has to be Eminem but I also enjoy some lesser-known artists too like Rebstar and Nova Rockafeller.



WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME?

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas happens to be both my favorite movie and book of all time. Hunter S Thompson was able to capture his unique experience in vivid detail, which is especially amazing given his condition. His writing is only occasionally cohesive but there is an almost poetic vibe in the way he uses his words. Luckily, the movie compliments the novel beautifully thanks to the amazing acting of Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. I have read the book twice and watched the movie at least ten times.



IF YOU HAVE AN HOUR OF FREE TIME TO SPARE, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?

I play video games. Even if I don't have time to spare, I usually end up playing video games before finishing other things I am supposed to get done. My wife and I manage an online clan/community of casual gamers spread out over North America. I actively play games on my XBOX 360, PC, and Nintendo 3DS and I own countless older systems as well. I tend to play a lot of first-person shooters but I can find enjoyment in almost any type of game that proves challenging.



WHAT KINDS OF FOOD DO YOU LIKE?

Spicy! I grew up eating a lot of Indian cuisine so I desensitized myself to HOT food a long time ago. I have been known to bring my wife to tears by adding too much spice to our meals. There really aren't too many foods I dislike either. I avoid brussels sprouts and beets but I'll eat almost anything else.



WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING PLACE YOU'VE EVER TRAVELED?

I haven't traveled much outside of Canada but I did go to Jamaica for my honeymoon last year. My wife and I spent a week at the Sandals Montego Bay all-inclusive resort. The food was amazing and the locals were all very friendly. The resort had lots of fun activities to enjoy and the beach was beautiful! We also went on a day long excursion around the island. We got to climb a 5-tier waterfall and visit the Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum factory.



WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It is a tie. First of all, I really love the people I get to work with at Point2. I have the pleasure of collaborating with a lot of very smart individuals every day. I can credit most of my success here to the various teams I have had the opportunity to work with. Secondly, I love all of the different challenges I get to face while working on our products. We, as developers, are empowered to do the critical thinking necessary to stay competitive in this market. We get to be involved in product design and feature planning. We also get the opportunity to use newer technologies to stay ahead of the curve. I also like to challenge the status quo by questioning everything, although maybe sometimes too aggressively.



WHAT ARE THE WORDS YOU LIVE BY?

I am not religious but I believe the Golden Rule is universally applicable. The words "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" simply states that you should treat others with the same respect you would like receive. If everyone acted with a bit more empathy, the world would surely be a better place for all.



WHAT ARE SOME THINGS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

1. Make a bucket list

2. ???

3. Profit



WHAT ATHLETE OR SPORTS FIGURE DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?

I only follow one sport: Mixed Martial Arts. I admire all of the fighters in the upper echelon of MMA. These athletes train for months to be able to compete for just 15 minutes. They have the courage to enter a cage with another human being whose only goal is to cause them bodily harm. And they do it all for only a fraction of the money that most other professional sports pay! There is an undeniable grit to the physical violence of the fights but I think that the psychological warfare is what I find the most entertaining. If I had to pick a favorite fighter I would have to go with Anderson Silva; he can make a fight look like a choreographed dance as he picks apart his opponents.



WHAT ONLINE SITES DO YOU VISIT?

* Stack Overflow - Q&A site for programmers

* Twitter - @Gweebz

* Netflix - Better and cheaper than cable!



IF YOU COULD HAVE A SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I would like to have the ability to teleport anywhere instantaneously. I am notoriously late for everything so it would be nice to go arrive on time for a change. Plus, it would be undeniably cool to be able to travel the world as I please.



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